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Queen Anne's War
French and Indian forces attack Massachusetts and kill 56 and abduct over 100 more. -
George Washington born
Westmoreland County, Virginia -
Benjamin Franklin invents the lightening rod
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The Sugar Act
Places duty on various commodities, including lumber, food, molasses and rum in the British Colonies. -
Declaration of Rights written
Nine American colonies hold the Stamp Act Congress in New York and write the Declaration of Rights to protest taxation without representation. -
Stamp Act is repealed
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Townshend Acts are enacted
Additional levies are put on goods in American colonies, all would be repealed in three years, except for the tax on tea. -
Boston Massacre (Credited as the first battle of the American Revolution)
British troops fire into a Boston mob who were demonstrating against British troops at the customs commission. -
William Clark born
Part of the Lewis and Clark expeditions -
Committee of Correspondence formed
Samuel Adams organizes and holds the first meeting. -
Boston Tea Party
Josiah Quincy and Samuel Adams board three English East India Company ships and tosses 342 chests of tea overboard in protest of tea trade and British government taxation of the colonies. This caused the British Parliament to close the port of Boston and moved them closer to war. -
Boston port closed
In response to the Boston Tea Party -
The Intolerable Acts enacted
Quartering Act: required the colonists to allow British soldiers into their homes and the curtailment of self-rule. Led to the third Amendment of the Constitution prohibiting the U.S. army from doing the same. -
Fairfax County Militia Association formed
George Mason and George Washington formed this with no more than 100 men. -
First Continental Congress held (09-05-1774 to 10-26-1774)
Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia - attended by all colonies except Georgia. These men petitioned the stop of new regulations and called for boycotts against British imports. The King and Parliament made no concessions. -
"Give me Liberty of Give Me Death" speech
Patrick Henry addresses the Virginia House of Burgesses in St. John's Church in Richmond. The crowd reacted with chants of, "To Arms! To Arms!" -
Two Lanterns Hung from the Old North Church Steeple
This was the official start of the American Revolution -
George Washington appointed to Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army
This was officially done by the Continental Congress. -
"Common Sense" published
Thomas Paine published his pamphlet "Common Sense". It proclaimed the ability and right of America to create a free and democratic nation. This raised public support for American independence. -
The Declaration of Independence
From the pen of Thomas Jefferson and committee is approved and signed. -
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
This was said my Nathan Hale a spy for the Continental Army that was executed by the British. -
Victory at Princeton, New Jersey
General Washington and the 7,000 men he commanded defeated the British troops. -
French recognized the independence of the 13 colonies
The French signed the treaties of alliance and commerce. The is a turning point of the war. -
Stars and Stripes adopted as the national flag
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National flag flies for first time at battle
Cooch's Bridge, Delaware -
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union adopted
This is the first constitution of the United States. -
First winter encampment
General Washington marches 11,000 men into Valley Forge. -
Pierre L'Enfant assigned as captain of engineers
After France signs the treaty of Amity and Commerce, and officially recognizing then new nation they send over L'Enfant to Valley Forge. He would later design the capital city of Washington, D.C. -
First battle of Savannah, Georgia lost
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Benedict Arnold court-marshaled for civil authority disputes
Angry about this he became a traitor against the America cause. -
Last major battle on American soil of the American Revolution
General George Washington and Rochambeau join together to fight the British near Williamsburg. The battle started on 10/09 and ended on 10/16 when the British surrendered -
Bald Eagle adopted as national bird
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British troops begin to leave American soil
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British Parliament recognized U.S. independence
Preliminary peace treaty is signed. Later formalized as the "Treaty of Paris" because it was signed in Paris 1-30-1782 -
Congress officially ends the Revolutionary War
Congress ratified the preliminary peace treaty -
Massachusetts Supreme Court outlaws slavery
Cites the "Bill of Rights" -
Peace Treaty signed in France
John Adams leads a delegation that signs the treaty ending the Re03volutionary War -
Bi-focals invented
TIred of his poor vision Benjamin Franklin invented bi-focals. -
Official monetary system adopted
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Steamboat private test performed
On the Delaware River -
Davy Crockett is born
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Five state delegates call for the constitution of the 13 states to be written
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Constitutional Convention opens
George Washington presiding in Philadelphia's Independence Hall -
Constitution adopted
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New Orleans fire kills 25 % of the population
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George Washington elected president
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U.S. Constitution is declared to be in effect
The U.S. Government begins to act in the Federal Hall, New York City, a converted Customs House -
George Washington inaugurated
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Bill of Rights is submitted to Congress
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President Washington gives first State of the Union address
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Supreme Court of the U.S. convenes
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First patent issued
Issued to Samuel Hopkins -
Vermont added as 14th state
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John Fitch issued patent for steamboat
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Bill of Rights takes effect
Originally submitted with 12, but two do not pass. Bill of rights contains the first 10 amendments -
U.S. Post Office Established
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New York Stock Exchange established
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Kentucky is the 15th state
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Cotton gin patent issued
Eli Whitney -
11th amendment passed
Each state's sovereign immunity -
Tennessee is the 16th state
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President Washington gives his last address as president
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John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson for president
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John Adams succeeds George Washington
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George Washington dies